Asheville Half Marathon & 10K/5K

🏃‍♂️ Race Overview

One of the greatest destination half marathons in North Carolina! Asheville is truly an American treasure and a running destination with great shopping and world-class beer, arts, and dining. Runners will want to sample the many unique breweries, bars and clubs that the city has to offer! Asheville is one of America's most picturesque cities with beautiful homes, mountains and attractions bordering the Blue Ridge Parkway!

The 13th Annual Asheville Half Marathon - 10k - 5K begins and ends in Pack Square on August 29, 2026. Starting at 7AM, this course covers some of the best parts of Asheville. It runs through the Brewery District, then tours the Arts District, and then follows the French Broad River as you head up north to Beaver Lake. After Beaver Lake you will head past the Grove Park Country Club, then towards Weaver Park, and next to UNCA campus. Runners will then take Broadway Street back to downtown. Participants will LOVE the challenge of running or walking the hills in Asheville.

Participants love the challenge of racing through the hills of Asheville at the end of August, one of the best times to visit with great weather, amazing views and beautiful fall colors filling the city. Yes, that's right...there are hills here. Ha!

The Asheville Half Marathon will be capped at 2500 participants for the 2026 event. There will be NO RACE DAY Registration so be sure to sign up early! ALL registration ends August 28, 2026.

If you're a runner, this is the one to run!

⏰ Race Start Times

• Location: Pack Square 80 Court Plaza, Asheville, NC 28801
• Date: Saturday, August 29, 2026
• 7:00 AM: HALF MARATHON & 10K
• 7:05 AM: 5K
• 8:30 AM – 11:00 AM: AWARDS CEREMONY

🏁 Start/Finish Information

Runners and walkers start at 7:00 AM at Pack Square. You will start and finish uphill...ugh! We ask everyone to be near the Start Line by 6:45 AM. You must wear your Bib Number to be allowed on the race course. DO NOT STOP AT FINISH LINE - KEEP MOVING ONTO PACK SQUARE PARK!

Finish Festival will be in Pack Square Park from 7:30 AM to 12:00 noon. Join us for entertainment, vendors, food, refreshments and fun to be had by all!

BRING YOUR OWN WATER TO THE START. We will have water bottles for you AFTER the race.

🎽 Participant Perks

Besides running in one of the most beautiful places on the East Coast:

• Running Tech Shirt: (Half Marathoner - 10K/5K)
• Custom Bibs: with your name on it (Half Marathoner - 10K/5K) - must sign up before August 1st
• Incredible Finisher Medals: (Half Marathoner - 10K/5K)
• Live Music Entertainment:

📦 Packet Pick Up

Date & Time: Friday, August 28th, 2026: 2:00PM – 7:00PM

Location: Asheville Brewing Company, 77 Coxe Ave, Asheville, NC 28801

For more information on Packet Pick Up, click HERE

🏃‍♀️ Will Call Packet Pick Up

Race Day - 6:00am-6:45am

*Located at the Red-ish Asheville Half Marathon Tent in the grass at Pack Square Park.

🗺️ Course Information

The 13.1 Asheville Half Marathon and 10K begins and ends in Pack Square and runs through the streets of Asheville and along the French Broad River. Participants will LOVE the challenge of running or walking the hills in Asheville. If you're a runner, this is the one to run!

Half Marathon Course: COURSE

🕒 Pacers

We are currently looking into getting pacers together. The pace groups will be 1:35, 1:45, 2:00, 2:15, 2:30, and 2:45. You do not need to sign up for a group, just show up to the start line and look for the pacer signs. If you are interested in being a Pacer, please email Ginna at ginnaleereid78@gmail.com

⏳ Timing Details

We have partnered with SVE Timing Services to time this year’s event using RM Timing Systems. All Half Marathon and 10K participants will be timed and will receive their disposable timing tag during packet pick up. If you have questions with results, please email Scott@svetiming.com

👕 T-Shirts

Every participant will be guaranteed a runners tech shirt that signed up before August 1st. You will have a choice between a men’s or women’s cut shirt. Shirts are ordered based on the sizes indicated during online registration.

NO SWITCHING SIZES – NO EXCEPTIONS!

🔗 Virtual Runner

Couldn’t get into the race this year or you couldn’t make it to the race? Maybe the time limit for the course closure is an issue for you. We have you covered…VIRTUAL RUNNER! See Details HERE

🏆 Divisions

Overall, Masters, 12 and under, 13-18, 19-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75+.

🥇 Awards

We want to support the local businesses for awards. Top 3 Males and Females Overall in all 3 races will receive awards. Top 1 Male and Females in all divisions for the half, 10K, and 5K will receive awards. Award gift certificates courtesy of Jus' Running and Fleet Feet - Asheville.

🏅 Claiming Awards

Awards will be given and called out during the awards ceremony around 10am. We do NOT ship unclaimed awards.

NOTE: Sisu Events reserves the right to add/delete categories and awards prior to race based on participation.

💸 Refunds and Transfers

Registration fees are non-refundable. Event registrations are non-transferable between individuals, events, or years. There will be no deferrals. You will be able to transfer into the Virtual Event up until August 10th, 2026.

⏳ Time Limits

There is a 3:00 hour time limit in the Half Marathon and a 1:45 time limit in the 10K. In order to comply with the agreement with the City of Asheville, streets comprising the route must be reopened to vehicular traffic on a set schedule. If you feel unsafe or the police have to leave their post for an emergency, you will be allowed to run on the sidewalks to finish. Use